Shock Wave Transmission to the Central Nervous System.

Abstract

Summary. The transmission of air shock waves to the central nervous system was studied in rabbits by means of a barium titanate pressure transducer inserted into the brain or the spinal column. By exposing only a part of the animal e. g . the head only or the trunk to the shock wave and with the other part thoroughly protected, it was possible to show that the main part of the shock wave pressure is transmitted to the brain directly through the skull. The indirect transmission of pressure from other parts of the body to the brain is of minor importance and the rôle of the blood vessels or the spine for that transmission is insignificant. Pressure is also propagated from the skull down through the spine but the transmission in the opposite direction, when the abdomen only is exposed is insignificant.